NY Legislative Session Ends With No Anti-Life Bills
Thankfully, the New York State Senate and Assembly adjourned on Wednesday, June 21, without taking up three anti-life measures. The bills had all been referred to various committees and progressed no further, with no committee votes or floor votes being taken.
A.3693 (S.159) — Additional funding to Planned Parenthood
A.6959A (S. 17A) — Allowing payment to surrogate mothers
A.02383 (S.03151) — Allowing assisted suicide (medical doctors to prescribe drugs to help patients end their lives)
While we’re relieved that none of these bills were passed into law during this session, it’s quite likely they will all be reintroduced next year. There’s even a possibility that the legislature may reconvene over the summer and might take up any of these. So please stay vigilant, informed, and let your state legislators know what you think about these issues.
Bill Proposes More NY State Funds for Planned Parenthood
(Correction: There is an error in this memo. The NY State Senate version of the bill is S00159, not 158.)
Bill Proposes Payment for Surrogacy in NY
Surrogacy is when a woman agrees to carry a pregnancy she did not conceive. The egg is fertilized outside the body and then implanted into the “surrogate mother” who carries the baby to term and then gives the child to the person or couple who commissioned the pregnancy. This bill would allow payment to the surrogate mother, thus introducing the possibility of “making parenthood a commercial enterprise” as well as exploiting a poorer woman who would carry the baby because she needs the money. 
House of Representatives Passes ‘American Health Care Act’ as First Step to Repeal Obamacare
A bill to repeal major portions of Obamacare passed the House of Representative Thursday by a vote of 217-212. Not one single Democrat voted for it. The bill now goes to the Senate for their consideration and will probably face major revisions there.
The bill, The American Health Care Act, contained a provision that would eliminate $390 million of federal spending to Planned Parenthood and redirect those funds to community health centers that offer a wider array of healthcare services — but not abortion.
Also, the American Health Care Act would reinforce the principles of the Hyde Amendment, which has historically prevented tax payer dollars from being used to pay for abortions, thus reversing Obamacare’s “multiple provisions authorizing federal subsidies for abortion, and abortion-expanding regulatory mandates,” according to the National Right to Life Committee.
Rockland’s representative in the House, Nita Lowey, voted against for this bill.
Two Victories: Freedom NOT to Fund PP and Confirmation of Gorsuch to Supreme Court
Yesterday, Pres. Donald Trump signed a bill (H.J. Res. 43) that reversed a “last-minute” law from the departing Obama administration which prevented states from denying funds to Planned Parenthood and other abortion providers under Title X.
Assoc. Justice of Supreme Court Neil Gorsuch
With this new legislation, states will be able to direct taxpayer dollars to comprehensive healthcare clinics that better serve women and do not do abortions.
All three of the legislators who represent Rockland in Congress voted against this bill: Rep. Nita Lowey, and Senators Chuck Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand.
This was the second prolife victory this week, the first being the swearing in of Neil Gorsuch to the Supreme Court on Monday.
Celebrating Life — Irish Style!
Members of the Rockland prolife community marched under the “Respect Life” banner last Sunday, in the Ancient Order of Hibernian’s St. Patrick’s Day parade in Pearl River. It was a sunny, perfect March-like day, and the spectators supported the group with applause along the entire parade route. Over 20 marchers were in the “Respect Life” contingent this year. See slide show below.
